Hon. Finlay MacDonald (1923-2002)

Hon. Finlay MacDonald

Year Born: 1923

Year Died: 2002

Year of Induction: 1986

Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame

MacDonald, Hon. Finlay (1923-2002)

Sydney-born Finlay MacDonald’s life was divided between broadcasting and politics. Educated at St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University, he served in the Canadian Army in Canada from 1942-45.

After the war, in pursuance of a career in radio, (a taste for which he developed on CJFX while attending university in Antigonish) he joined the announcing staff of CJCH Halifax, rising in due course to the position of President of CJCH Limited (Radio and later TV).

In 1956, he was elected President of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and in 1961, was one of the founding Directors of the CTV Television Network.

In his political career, Finlay MacDonald, in 1972, was Chief of Staff for Opposition Leader Robert Stanfield, and in 1983 was Chairman of the Brian Mulroney Transition Committee. He was summoned to the Senate in 1984.

Senator MacDonald was a member of the Canada Games President’s Club. In 1969, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

In 1986, Finlay MacDonald was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.

He retired from the Senate on January 4th, 1998.

The Honourable Finlay MacDonald died March 2, 2002.

Written by J. Lyman Potts – September, 1996